Mark Thomas. Editor, Liverpool Daily Post. Free copy distribution has increased over the year as paid-for sales slipped further to under 15,000 copies. However the increase in readership has been accompanied by increased investment in business, sport, magazines and special publications. The paper’s total circulation may now be just 22,000 but the title remains the undisputed daily read among Liverpool's professional classes. The shift of printing to Oldham and rumours about the paper’s future intentions will challenge him next year.

Kevin Young. Editor, Lancashire Telegraph. Editor, Lancashire Telegraph. A busy year for Young as he now also oversees various titles in the group’s portfolio including the free Citizen series in Blackburn and Chorley plus the increasingly successful monthly title Asian Image. Also oversaw the relaunch of the Westmorland Gazette over the summer to critical acclaim. A big fan of digital and mobile, the past year has also seen further launches of ultra-local niche titles. Reflecting the declining trend experienced by all the regional dailies, sales of the Lancs Tel fell to 27,481.

 

Lucy Meacock. Turned 50 this year but the two times RTS award-winning freelancer Meacock shows little sign of slowing down. Indeed, if anything, her presenting of week-end ITV News bulletins for ITN seem to have increased in volume. Has been co-presenting Granada Reports (Granada Tonight) for over 20 years. Has been described as a sort of female equivalent of Gordon Burns in terms of regional news longevity.  The former convent girl and local paper reporter has staying power. 

 

Richard Gregory.  Richard Gregory, COO, Latitude. CEO Alex Hoye divides his time between Warrington and London but Gregory oversees all client services from the Warrington HQ. Staff of just under 100 and fee income last year of £10.5m from sales of £50m plus suggest the VC-owned company is making steady progress again after an earlier hiccup. A huge new contract with BT will need 25 further staff says Gregory who joined the region’s biggest SEO company in 2002.

 

 

Mark Garner. Publisher, Planet Confidential. Love him or loathe him, Garner is never one to shy away from a fight…or even publicity. The Confidential publishing model has had a tough year with staff numbers at his company down from 25 to around 10 and investment in Leeds put on hold. He’s just changing the business model from charging advertisers a monthly retainer to introducing subscriptions for readers.  He admits it’s a big gamble but the team Confidential is confident its mix of restaurant nous, humour and value for money offers will see it through into consistent profitability.

 

Nicola Leyland. Commercial Director, Bauer Media. Previous career spent in print and outdoor with Autotrader and Viacom respectively. Her current role sees her based in Castlefield Manchester form where she oversees the representation of Bauer Radio’s portfolio of 43 radio stations to media buying agencies outside London. Bauer has 25% of the UK’s commercial radio market. A team of 15 account managers, planners and researchers report to her. Beyond Bauer, she chairs the MPA which is gradually being transformed into a broader media industry body.

 

Mike Ryan. Mike Ryan. Founder Idaho. The former DJ and Stockport College lecturer celebrated Idaho’s 12th anniversary this year. One of the very few survivors of the original dot-com boom, Idaho is these days more into complex web development which he hopes will bring it closer to the company’s £1m turnover target. A cheerful figure who prefers to keep a low-ish profile, he is arguably the digital community’s most trusted long-serving servant.

Dougal Paver. Dougal Paver. Managing director, Paver Smith. Four years since the MBO and the Liverpool PR agency is up to circa 40 staff and claimed turnover of £2.5m.  A Manchester office has been opened on the back of a modest acquisition and a number of new clients have come on board to make up for the dozen plus property clients that fell away during the recession. Major new public sector wins including the World Expo gig for next year have enabled the agency to keep growing more strongly than most.

 

Alison Forshaw. Deputy Group Sales Director, GMG Radio. Forshaw is group head of all local UK sales and is based in Manchester from where she oversees a team of circa 20 staff. Her portfolio includes Smooth, the North West’s largest radio station by some distance. Has worked in media sales (print and radio) for over 20 years. Joined GMG in 2007 from Key 103 where she was sales director.

Jenni Murray OBE. Presenter, Radio 4 Woman's Hour. Back into full swing following her return from her very public battle with cancer and two subsequent hip replacements. Divides her time between her Peak District farmhouse and London. Is a frequent contributor to magazines and newspapers including regionally the MEN. In 2007 she became a member of the Radio Academy Hall of Fame and was recently given a lifetime achievement award by the Media Society.

 

Roger Phillips. BBC Merseyside. Multi award-winning anchorman of BBC Radio Merseyside with his noon to 2pm phone-in slot - still the show which sets the standard for Merseyside debate.  Over 350,000 listeners tune in every week day lunchtime to share in the now institutional broadcast.  His network and contact book on Merseyside is legendary. Honorary positions awarded by both Liverpool University and JMU reflect his status which everyone is eager to share in.

 

Nick Turner. Head of digital content development, CN Group. Has joined the board of the Society of Editors since last year’s entry in this compilation. He has steadily developed a reputation as one of the newspaper industry’s leading digital execs since crossing over from editing print titles. Launched an interesting new twist on ultra local sites in the spring when he offered contributors a share of ad revenues. He is also a regular collaborator with UCLan and its Digital Editors Network.

Martin Regan. Editorial director, Excel Publications. Co-owns the company - which is chaired by Autotrader founder Pat Quinn - with partner Pat Rafter. In common with most primarily print publishers, staff numbers are down from circa 150 to 130. Regan has recently stepped down as editor of the monthly business title EN citing pressures from the company’s numerous other B2B titles requiring more attention from him.  Increasing emphasis on digital and events as to be expected but no news yet of the chain of sweet shops he was planning to launch.

 

James Rea. Group head of news, GMG Radio. Award-winning broadcast journalist has done the rounds of radio. Earlier roles include editor of Real Radio in Yorkshire and senior broadcast journalist with Radio 1’s Newsbeat programme. Appointed group head of news across GMG’s 13 stations in 2007. He is based in Salford Quays from where he oversees national news and the output of the individual local news editors across the group.

 

Paul Wheeler. Managing partner, Mediacom North. The region's second largest media planning and buying agency with billings of £100m plus and circa 50 staff. In common with other media agencies, it’s been a tough year for Wheeler and his team who in addition to the recession have lost some high profile clients. The recent win by its London parent of £17m Merlin Entertainments business is however thought to spell good news for Manchester as Alton Towers will be led from here. In the meantime, client BetFred just keeps growing.

 

Mark Radcliffe. Radio DJ and presenter. Another busy year for arguably the best known national male radio presenter living in the region. Talk of him taking over from Simon Mayo on 5 Live’s afternoon slot proved ill-founded but the BBC’s arrival en masse in 2011 is almost certainly likely to see him involved in areas beyond his current evening show remit. His genuine ‘Northern’ credentials are too good for the Beeb not to capitalise upon. Turned 50 last year and renewed his MCFC season ticket.